Today's Opinions

My mother-in-law, Avis Rowell Hammond, who died Feb. 25, 2012, lived to be 100 years old.
She had five sons and two daughters. Her first three sons, Max, Lloyd and Bobby were all in the Navy at the same time during the Korean War, and all were on the same ship, which was very unusual in that day and time.

Everyone has been touched by cancer, either through their own personal battle or through someone they love.
In case you didn’t know, Relay for Life is a 12-hour festival that raises money for the American Cancer Society. The event is 12 hours because cancer never sleeps.
Through the fun and games, lives are honored, survivors are lifted and memories are shared.

Those of you who like R&B, contemporary rock and a little country rock missed a treat if you weren’t at Bradley Auditorium on Oct. 16. Edwin McCain never disappoints. He even has some new stories. His saxaphone player is excellent and is given ample solos during concerts.
If McCain returns to Lancaster, I hope there will be a larger audience. It’s good to support the arts, but even better to support South Carolina artists.

The city of Lancaster is putting its money where its mouth is in support of a future business park near Lancaster County Airport on S.C. 9 West.
Lancaster City Council, by a 6-1 vote, approved at its Oct. 23 meeting to allocate $900,000 to extend city water and sewer services to the Lancaster Air-Rail Industrial Park, a joint project being planned by Lancaster City and County Councils.

Numbers never lie.
It’s easy to measure the impact Sun City Carolina Lakes in Indian Land is making in Lancaster County.
Since its beginning in 2005, the 1,512-acre active adult community on Charlotte Highway has become one of the fastest growing subdivisions in the nation.
According to the Charlotte Business Journal, the development led the Charlotte region in the number of new single-family homes, with 205 closings in 2011.
It’s impact is being felt in other ways, as well.

I have followed with much interest Gloria Davey’s fight for rezoning in order to build a “no-kill” pet shelter in Lancaster County.
We all know the county-owned shelter is always overloaded and, consequently, more than 4,000 pets are euthanized there each year. I applaud Ms. Davey and her efforts to help find a solution for this. I would stand behind anyone trying to help the pets in whatever way they could.

Jobs have been the No. 1 issue on every candidate’s mind during this year’s election.

The Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored two candidate forums this year on the campus of the University of South Carolina Lancaster featuring candidates of local races including Lancaster City Council, school board, Lancaster County council, sheriff, S.C. House District 44 and U.S. House District 5. In every race, jobs and the economy were at the forefront of the discussion.